Madlanga Commission: Shibiri claims 'three envelopes' remarks were a warning, not a bribe

By Johnathan Paoli

Suspended SAPS Organised Crime head Major-General Richard Shibiri has told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that his controversial “three envelopes” remarks to two detectives investigating the murder of Armand Swart were a protective warning; not an attempt to facilitate corruption.

Shibiri was responding to evidence from Witness A and Witness B, who previously testified that less than a month after Swart’s murder and the arrest of the alleged hitmen, they were called into a meeting where he referred to “three envelopes” allegedly available to secure bail: one for the investigating officer, one for the prosecutor and one for the magistrate.

“Any reference made during the meeting of money envelopes or bags of money was direct repetition of the intelligence received from the source. It was not a suggestion or instruction or endorsement of corruption. I expressly cautioned the investigator not to accept any bribe,” he said.